Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1887-03-16

not n6lp uASiubS BIG h1UN
been so considerable as to
assist him to gain that reward. But
Annie could not look John straight
in the face. Poor child! what feelings
would have been hers had she known
the enormous bulge in Johns jacket
pocket was caused by her very fdsnti-
cal red stockings laid out to air that
ming? John of whom she never
dreamed as other than "Mr. Dart"
even though she worked faster when
he came her way, and perhaps felt
more anxiety about the smooth mass
es Of light brown hair than at any
other time?
Well when the two officers had gone
and all had settled to work again,
John came to Annie'r chair and said
kindly:
miss Annie that detective turned
everything i'll your room in such aw'
full confusion, it will take you all day
to straighten it up again, so ii you
like | have gotten permission for you
to take the remainder of the day, and
no reduction to be made" 70
"Thank yOu-you are very kind
she murmured, but she would not look
at him and seemed so confused that big,
good natured John turned away in
pure kindness and let her make her
escape unnoticed.
Annie fled homeward, dashed into
No. 80, glanced wildly over the room,
then burst into tears.
ooh, dedrf OH dear!' she sobbed.
'"There was my nfghtdrsss on the bed,
and my slippers, and my bed not up
and, oh! potatoes in the skillet!
Oh, he will think | am a regular SLOW
EN-! Why couldn't it happen any
other time than when | had to sleep
so late l couldn' t even eat my break
fast! Oh, dear he will never like me
again! He couldn't after seeing such
a looking room" She did not stop to
think that her castle looked worse
when they had left than wnen they
entered. but as the disorder
worried her so much, she could not sit
still and cry, she began her task. 1t
WAS some time before the detectives
work was undone, everything in trim
order with the mattress rolled up
and the bed folded against the wall
like book cabinet and the few dishes
washed, and the tiny stove BACKED
and the screen set around it, and the
one table covered with a gaily en-
broidered cloth, all of which trans
formed the kitchen and bedroom in
to a cosy little sltting-room as
though by fairy's wand. 1t was a
dainty little place, nothing expensive,
but exquisite in the taste and tact
displayed. The prevailing colors were
deep red and pale blue and gold, with
many neutral tints blended in the vari-
Gus bits of fancy work. On a brac-
ket was a bit OF white stauary
set on q delicate mating Of
the tender green leaves OF a growing
vine-the only costly extravaganza in
the room, and Annie well knew how
long it took her to save enough to buy
it. She had selected her room for its
south window, and therein were
standing two geranium plants in full
bloom, one a deep double red, the
other soft single white flower.
AS Annie was viewing these little
luxuries with commendable pride and
gradually plucking up spirits, she
suddenly bethought her OF her stock
ings. She did not remember of pick
ing them up, and, as she only had
three pairs, it was important that
none of them should be misplaced.
Therefore she began to search dill
gently, and was beginning to get
tired and puzzled in the useless
search, when a loud RAP, which she
had heard once before, at the door,
caused her to glance hastily in the
glass and then timidly open the door
to the knocker. 1t was noon. The
whistle had blown just few minutes
before, and instead of going to his
dinner, here was John Dart standing
at her door.
"Won't you come in?" asked An
ME with downcast face.
"That's what came for" respond
ed John, honestly, and in he walked.
Then he turned around, and, taking
her hands in his own in the honored
and approved fashion. he said:
II have been thinking OF you this
long while, Annie, and now l feel I
cannot wait any longer. You are
alonein the world, and l am almost
so, although uncle is very good. Let
us make each other happy, and have
a. pretty home like this"-glancing
around the room-"with posies in
every window.
Oh, of course, Annie said "Yes'-
who wouldn't? And when the quarter
of one whistle blew, John (who was
very punctuaD went from room 80 to
the factory as one walking on air
his empty stomach had some
thing to do with the lightish feeling
but he never thought ofthat OF course.
Annie sat and laughed and cried to
think how happy she was, and spent |
the rem ainder of her holiday until
evening building air castles, until John |
came back and began to put solid |
to the same by means ri
his pocket.book.
They were married two months aft |
erward, and the next day John gave
his wife small bundle rolled up in |
white paper and tied with blue ribbon.
Full of wonder, Mrs. John united the
ribbon and beheld-her lost stockings!
Why, joint she exclaimed, in
running her hand down to
the toe. But there were no holes
only two or three dainty little darns,
and it is safe to predict that Johns |
socks will never suffer.